WHAT IS TOWER STORIES: THE PLAY?

A project to adapt Damon DiMarco’s book “Tower Stories: an Oral History of 9/11” for the stage. Donations will fund the play’s development cycle, including readings by professional actors in New York City, with an eye toward mounting a full production on the 15th anniversary of 9/11 (September 2016).

WHY WRITE A PLAY ABOUT 9/11?

It’s one thing to read history in a textbook, quite another to experience actual people embodying it on stage. The unique oral history format of Tower Stories (the book) invites transformation into a powerful piece of theater that will humanize 9/11 for generations to come. The voices of people who participated in the actual event – policemen, firemen, paramedics, volunteers, survivors, and the bereaved – will speak directly to audience members, telling them what actually happened and how it affected our culture.

HOW WILL MY DONATION BE USED?

A well-made play requires extensive development. Its first draft initiates prolonged collaboration between actors, directors, producers, and the playwright. Over subsequent readings, these artists test, shape, and reshape the material so the final script can withstand the stress of production. The need for a healthy development process holds especially true for material related to 9/11, where historical and personal stakes must be respected.

Your donation will cover studio rentals, actor stipends, office supplies, research, and publicity for an open read of the play’s final draft. Any overfunding will allow us to augment the project’s scope, as well as efforts to publicize the final read.

Thank you for your support. Please spread the word! And please visitwww.damondimarco.comfor more information.